Sean Strickland Praised for Making Khamzat Chimaev Fight Into Paramount Era’s Most Anticipated Fight

Sean Strickland was praised by a journalist for the interest he has drummed up for his title challenge at UFC 328 against Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland Praised for Making Khamzat Chimaev Fight Into Paramount Era’s Most Anticipated Fight

Sean Strickland calls out Khamzat Chimaev (via X)

In Short
  • Sean Strickland is praised for generating excitement ahead of UFC 328 against Khamzat Chimaev.
  • The rivalry between Strickland and Chimaev has intensified, leading to heightened tensions before their fight.
  • Chimaev appreciates Strickland's antics, viewing them as beneficial for promoting their upcoming title match.

Sean Strickland is a polarizing figure in the MMA community. Many praise him for being his most authentic self despite living in the era of political correctness. However, others dislike his antics and his extreme comments on sensitive topics. It seems veteran journalist Ariel Helwani falls in the first camp as he recently commended the former champion for making the build to UFC 328 more exciting.

At UFC 328, Sean Strickland gets his second attempt to regain the middleweight title he lost to Dricus Du Plessis. Only this time, he faces his former teammate, Khamzat Chimaev. The relationship between the former training partners has deteriorated significantly over the years. Ever since their fight was announced, Sean Strickland has not stopped his verbal jabs at his Chechen opponent.

Tensions are running so high that many fear things will boil over before the middleweights even make it to the octagon. Even so, Ariel Helwani believes all this drama has made UFC 328 the most anticipated Paramount era card so far, and he credits Strickland for it.

It’s such a wild, crazy, divided world that we live in…So this is it. He is maybe putting out the blueprint as to how you get by, how you get ahead, how you get what you want in the year 2026…And that’s what kind of makes this very interesting.

Ariel Helwani via the Ariel Helwani Show

Sean Strickland has often been criticized for playing it up for the media to maximize outrage. This includes his boss, Dana White, who blamed the media for giving ‘Tarzan’ the opportunity to speak inappropriately on touchy subjects. But Helwani views it as Strickland being true to himself, believing he is the “blueprint” for how entertainers can toe the line between attention and outrage in the modern era.

That said, the former champion has gone to pretty extreme lengths in this feud. In mid-April, Strickland drove around Newport Beach, where Khamzat Chimaev trains, while sharing his location, trying to lure out the champion. Given these improprieties and the historical conduct of both men, Dana White has historically tightened security ahead of their showdown.

Although much like White’s rival, Ariel Helwani, UFC commentator Jon Anik also encourages a chaotic build to UFC 328. He and Helwani actually share this sentiment with Khamzat Chimaev. The current middleweight champion also credited his upcoming opponent for making their fight bigger.

Khamzat Chimaev says he loves Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland has evoked strong reactions from almost all of his recent opponents. He enraged both Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya during the build-up to their respective fights, even starting a brawl with ‘Stillknocks’. However, despite all of his taunts and threats, Khamzat Chimaev recently revealed that he loved Sean Strickland and his antics.

Sean Strickland, Khamzat Chimaev
Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev [ via The Body Lock and UFC.com]

‘Borz’ revealed this during an interview with The Mac Life as he wraps up his preparations for his first title defense. Chimaev was asked about his American opponent’s comments and a potential altercation at the pre-fight press conference. The Chechen middleweight brushed off these concerns and said that he enjoys Strickland’s antics because they ultimately benefit him.

I don’t know. That’s my work. I love it. I love the UFC, I love Sean Strickland, and what he’s talking about. [It’s] making it a big fight, let him make money, you know… I like his talking. It’s good for me. I don’t need to worry about needing to talk, you know. He’s talking for everyone.

Khamzat Chimaev via The Mac Life

Sean Strickland already said that he would carry his animosity against Chimaev even after their fight’s conclusion. But it appears Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t see Strickland’s threats as anything more than fight promotion.

‘Borz’ himself has recently gotten more into the promotional side of fighting with his move to Santo Studio, frequent collaborations with the JAXXON brand, and the recent launch of his YouTube channel. So, it’s no surprise that he seems to be enjoying Strickland carrying the promotion for this fight with his derisive remarks and threats.

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